Shepp News |
There will be a bit more colour across Goulburn Valley sport this weekend.
Teams from the Goulburn Valley football and netball leagues, the Kyabram District football and netball leagues, Shepparton Junior District Football League and the umpires will wear rainbow laces in support of the Zaidee Rainbow Foundation.
Shepparton girl Zaidee Turner died aged seven in 2004 after suffering a burst blood vessel in her brain.
She was the only Victorian child to donate her organs and tissue that year and one of six children to donate in Australia, saving or improving the lives of up to seven other people.
In her memory, Zaidee’s parents, Allan and Kim Turner, set up Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation to promote discussion about organ and tissue donation, particularly between parents and children.
This week that message will be heard, and seen, loud and clear.
‘‘It’s very pleasing that the GVFL, the KDFL, the SDJFL and the umpires have all supported the Zaidee round,’’ Allan Turner said.
‘‘Hopefully Zaidee’s story will inspire discussion (about organ and tissue donation), especially with children.
‘‘We want people to be inspired by a little girl’s story.’’
Turner praised the leagues, clubs and the umpires for getting behind the foundation.
‘‘It’s vitally important because we all know that footy clubs are a major part of the community,’’ Turner said.
‘‘Once you get support from the footy and netball clubs, it’s a lot easier to get the message out.’’
AFL Goulburn Murray Region general manager Martin Gleeson said he was delighted to see so many local leagues get behind the foundation.
‘‘It is a community awareness program and with Zaidee being a local girl, I think it hits a bit closer to home,’’ Gleeson said.
‘‘Football, with its profile in the community and its reach across the community and across all age groups, is a perfect fit to promote this.
‘‘It’s a show of what football and netball can contribute to the community.’’
Gleeson said promoting these causes was one of the many important communal roles all local sports, not just football, had to play and was glad to see football and netball rise to the occasion.
